Asking for a Friend explores the complexities of friendship and motherhood (and the complications that arise when those two things intersect) and shows what it means (and why it's important) for women to have choice and bodily autonomy. Who knew we'd be needing books like this in 2023? Kerry Clare writes with an engaging level of descriptive detail (her characters travel and live in a variety of locations over the decades the book spans, all of which are painted vividly) but it's the emotional insight and her excellent use of interiority that make this book so compelling.

Asking For a Friend by Kerry Clare was perfect for a reader who loves the story of female friendship and the experiences of women throughout their lives. Clara and Jess became best friends in an instant, but once their lives took them down different paths, it wasn't always easy to maintain. Clare shares their stories - as a pair of friends and as individuals - with care and compassion and the sensitivity of someone who knows how to cherish and nurture a relationship with other women. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read.

Asking for a Friend is a novel that follows two young women, Jess and Clara, as they experience love, loss and life on their journeys to discover themselves and their friendship. There is also a heavy emphasis on motherhood, which I had some difficulty connecting to as I am not a mother. I found the story interesting, although a slow read for me. I enjoyed the novel, but did not find it captivating enough to keep my attention for long lengths of time.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

This a story about the friendship between two young adult women who met at university into their older lives. The story was well written and I did like it at times but I didn't connect with either of the main characters. It did not seem very realistic though.... they seemed to be competing with each other all the time. There was way too much about abortion and unwanted pregnancy and irresponsible sex.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book!

A compelling literary exploration of the enduring bond between two women, spanning from their university days to their forties. "Asking for a Friend" intricately navigates their paths as they carve out careers, build families, and confront the complexities of life's unpredictability. The narrative delves into the profound impact of motherhood on a woman's body, mind, and spirit, offering a poignant examination of its joys and challenges.

What truly captivates is the portrayal of the dynamic between friends traversing disparate socioeconomic trajectories. The stark contrast between one couple's financial success and upward mobility against the struggles of the other couple adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative. This exploration of the uptight/earthy spectrum within friendships is a refreshing departure from typical literary themes yet resonates deeply with the realities many face in their own lives.

In "Asking for a Friend," the author skillfully navigates the intricacies of long-term friendship, shedding light on the nuances and tensions that arise as individuals evolve over time. It's a narrative that speaks to the universal experiences of camaraderie, growth, and the enduring bonds that withstand the trials of life.

Many thanks for to Net Galley for the Advanced Reader Copy! It was great to read a Canadian author!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded

Look, I don’t read a lot of women’s lit, but this is such a poignant tale of girlhood through the years. Admittedly there are a lot of heavy subjects involved and I would’ve liked more joy. However, as someone at an age where she and her friends are having a similar plot, a lot of the themes resonated with me.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

This is my first Kerry Clare book. Once I noticed she's a Canadian (Toronto based) author I quickly requested this and was very excited to read it 🇨🇦 The writing is very good and the premise was promising.

The book spans on a friendship between Jess and Clara from 1998-2016. The two meet at university and quickly become friends. The story is basically just about their friendship and all their trials and tribulations. They are friends throughout their university days and early days of young adulthood. Then they go through long periods of not talking to each other but always end up finding one another and rekindling their friendship. The story continues and ends with their married days and when they have children.

The story touches on a lot of important female issues such as abortion, miscarriage, and fertility problems. Still, something was missing between the two characters for me. That lovely cover was calling me but I just didn't quite feel the warm bond between them. It was a good story but I did expect a little more. I would not be opposed to reading another book from this author.

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Doubleday Canada) for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.

This was such an unexpected gem and I loved it so much. Another excellent book by a Canadian author. I loved the characters, setting, storyline…everything just worked and it was such a delight!

Happy to include an author interview in Zoomer, Canada's culture magazine for 45+, on this title. (it's at link)

I love books about female friendships, and Asking For A Friend by Kerry Clare was no exception. I looked forward to reading this book and was sad when it was over. I’m very excited to read more from this author.

I was asked to give an honest review by Netgalley and the publisher, so here it goes.
I didn't really like this book at all. I'm all for female friendships, but these people were horrible friends.
I was annoyed by these people from the very beginning. If I had been treated like this, I would have cut my losses.
With friends like these, who needs enemies. I didn't like any of these characters, men or women.
They were all so self-absorbed and ablivoius to things going on right in front of them.
Even years later--rape allegations, infidelity lies-- same old things going on. So if you want to know how not to treat your friends, by all means read this book.
2 out of 5.

Books about female friendships are my absolute favourite. They are what I love to write and what I love to read, especially when an author is able to capture the nuances and layers of these friendships in the way Kerry Clare does.

In ASKING FOR A FRIEND, we follow the lives of Jess and Clara who became best friends in college and, despite the many ups and downs that life has thrown their way, are still best friends into adulthood. Clare tackles important topics like abortion, relationships and motherhood in this book and nothing feels forced or fake. There is heartfelt emotion and love in every situation, even when the going is tough and Jess and Clara struggle and show their flaws. Because we all have them; even if we don’t want to admit it.

Spanning three decades, this is a coming of age story for every stage of life and the characters felt so real, I had a hard time closing the book on them. With poignant and whip-smart writing, Clare pulls you in from the first page. Bonus points for the Canadian setting and 90s references. I highly recommend you pick up a copy.

Thanks Penguin Random House Canada for my advance reading copy.

This novel brings comfort while reading. I feel into a friendship that was filled with the realities of life. One that held through breaks and all the traumas and changes of life.

An interesting book that focuses on two women who met in university , became very close at a time in their lives that they needed support, and then trying to and remaining friends as their lives changed and as they became wives and mothers. It moved along slowly at first, but then the story picked up in complexity and speed. I did not think that the characters of the two main characters were fully revealed nor their tensions, stresses of their lives, and very little of their spouses. The plot moved along well and closed as predicted, with the women close friends despite of each other and their complex lives. I enjoyed the book, all in all, and would recommend it to others about the complexity of being wives and especially of having children and yet having a life.

I love stories about strong female friendships but this one missed the mark for me. I felt like Jess and Clara had a very unhealthy, competitive relationship. I didn't hate it, but I didn't find myself wanting to pick up the book very often.

Asking for a Friend follows the lives of two best friends, Clara and Jess, who met by chance one night in a college dorm room. At times they're inseparable, and at others they drift apart, but they always come back together. Through breakups, abortions, engagements, weddings, miscarriages, and births, and motherhood they are there for each other. Someone to confide in when life seems unbearable, or to jump for joy with when things are going just right. Reading this you can feel as though you're one of Clare and Jess' friends, with them through it all. It is truly a glimpse into the everyday life of two Canadian women, and all the joys, inequalities, and heartache that goes with it. I got so involved in their lives wanting to know what would come next for them, that I had an exceedingly hard time putting it down. An excellent example of women's lit. Perfect for fans of Firefly Lane.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy to read and review.

This novel was like sitting down with my favourite girlfriend show and binging all of it.

The story is part slice of life and part social commentary. It follows two women as they become friends in College through to their later lives as wives and mothers. Kerry Clare tackles the issues of abortion, miscarriage and female friendship with all of its trials and rewards.

I enjoyed this novel immensely and look forward to reading more from Kerry Clare.

Asking For a Friend is a great contemporary fiction about friendship, not really cozy kind of friendship but they had their ups and downs and still best friends, very realistic characters and Toronto as a sidekick character.

I loved character development and flaws and their strengths, for me it was very comforting read - as if people watching through a window, they are struggling and winning and struggling again and it just flows and makes it right.

Lots of literary and music references, for annotation lovers it is just a gem. And 90s nostalgia which we like so much.

Please grab copy for you and your friend ✨
Honestly I almost missed a book launch because I wanted to continue reading.

Asking for a Friend is a beautiful, heartwarming - yet also heartbreaking at times - tale of friendship. This story is a coming-of-age story that follows two best friends over the span of three decades: from being students in a college dorm, to juggling work and motherhood. It describes the natural ebbs and flows of friendship: the drifting apart, yet also the reconnection; the being there for one another in times of greatest need. This story is nostalgic: it has filled me with warmth and gratitude for my own friends and the people I can lean on in times of need.

Read if you like stories about:
💕 Friendship
🤱 Motherhood and parenthood

⚠️ Potential trigger warnings: abortion, miscarriage, death of a family member (may not be an exhaustive list)

🙏 Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Doubleday Canada for the gifted electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get into this book despite it being fairly hyped up. I loved the cover and the description so it should have been up my alley.